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Injuries continue to pile up across the NBA, some of which have left fictional basketball managers scrambling for reinforcements. To add the hot forfeit option, sometimes you have to make a tough decision about which players to drop. Let’s highlight five players recognized for fantasy directors who need an open roster spot to consider stepping back.
The Celtics acquired Brogdon in a deal Pacers to make him a member of their second unit. After putting up some impressive fantasy stats as a starter during his tenure with the Pacers, analysts predicted he’d take a step back with his new team. And it paid off, as he averaged 13.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists over 23 minutes per game.
One of the reasons the Celtics want to keep Brogdon off the bench for limited minutes is because he has a checkered injury history. He has missed six matches so far this season and has not participated in more than 56 matches since the 2018-2019 season. Expect the Celtics to take every opportunity to give Brogdon a little more rest, including keeping him on the bench for games in which he has a big lead. They’ve been involved in some outbursts lately, which has left Brogdon scoring less than 10 points in four of their last five games. There will be nights where he takes off based on his talent, but with his uneven production, it’s not a crazy idea to leave him if you need a more reliable option.
A foot injury restricted Hardaway to just 42 games last season. An extended absence was a rarity for him, given that he had played at least 70 games in each of the previous two seasons. He struggled with his efficiency when on the ground, shooting just 39.4% from the field. That left him averaging 14.2 points per game, his lowest since the 2015-16 season.
Hardaway doesn’t usually offer much in the way of rebounds, assists, or defensive stats, which makes it difficult for him to score in most formats when he’s not shooting high. He’s down to 38.4% from the field this season, which leaves him averaging a modest 13.8 points per game. Unless you’re desperate for 2.8 three-pointers per game, it hurts enough fantasy managers in most categories to be worth the fall.
Clarke has missed the last two games with a groin injury, but that’s not why he’s on this list. His problem again has been a lack of playing time this season. He averages just 20 minutes per game, which is exactly his average last season when he put up 10.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
With the same playing time this season, Clark averaged nearly identical 10.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. He has a lot of talent and is only 26 years old, but the Grizzlies have not indicated that they intend to play him more. In fact, they have begun Santi checkers it earlier this season when Garren Jackson Jr injured. It would probably take several hits up front for Clark to see a significant increase in playing time.
rebuild missiles Wall was put in a difficult situation last season when they decided not to play him at all, despite him being healthy. His brutal contract made him virtually untradeable, so he had to wait it out and look for a new opportunity as a free agent in the off-season. When he finally hit the open market, he joined the Clippers on a two-year contract in which the second year was an option for the club. He signed a deal to prove it to show if he can still contribute significantly to the opposing team.
With Wall missing all of last season and struggling with injury issues in the past, the Clippers have taken a very cautious approach to his playing time. He has been sitting out at least one straight sets match and is averaging just 22 minutes per match. The Clippers have a lot of depth, including at point guard, where they are Reggie Jackson She played exceptionally well in a leadership role last season. Wall shoots 41.4% from the field and 67.9% from the charity bar, averaging 11.5 points and 5.2 assists in his limited role. While his passes are useful to fantasy managers in need, the rest of his contributions don’t make him a must-have player anymore.
The Jazz mired in a rebuild this past season, getting rid of two star players Donovan Mitchell And the Rudy Goubert. O’Neale is not at the level of either of those two, but he was a crucial player for them, providing defense and 3-point shooting. His trade to the Nets brought him back to the opposition team, making him into the starting lineup along with two other stars in Kevin Durant And the Kyrie Irving.
Playing time has not been an issue for O’Neal, who averages 35 minutes per game. He was an asset from behind the arc, making 2.3 three-pointers per game. He also averages 4.2 assists. However, his contributions to other fields leave much to be desired. His averages of 9.3 points and 4.8 rebounds won’t move the needle in most tournaments, and he’s hurting percentages by shooting 40.0% from the field and 64.0% from the free throw line. The Nets won’t be changing his role anytime soon, so he’s not an essential player.